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Despite often being large, powerful storms, tornadoes don't actually stay on the ground for long. In Michigan, for example, a tornado will typically stay on the ground for about 5 miles. Larger tornadoes, however, can travel more than 100 miles at a time.

Many tornadoes do not follow an average speed or path. They commonly travel between 25 and 40 miles per hour, but faster moving tornadoes are not unheard of. They can also carve a wide path during their time on the ground. Depending on the size of the tornado, paths between 300 feet and 1 mile have been reported.